Foreign Minister Murray McCully on Wednesday welcomed a visit to New Zealand by China' Communist Party Politburo Member and Guangdong Province Communist Party Secretary Hu Chunhua.
"The visit will provide a further opportunity to emphasize New Zealand's commitment to building on trade and economic links with the Guangdong region, particularly in areas of business cooperation, fostering investment and film cooperation, education and tourism links," McCully said in a statement.
"The China relationship is a rapidly growing and wide-ranging one, covering trade and economic matters but also political and cultural ties," McCully said.
Following Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit in November last year and the agreement by leaders to characterize the relationship as a comprehensive strategic partnership, Hu's visit reaffirmed that the relationship between New Zealand and China was in excellent shape, he said.
Hu would meet with Prime Minister John Key, McCully, Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce and Maori Development Minister Te Ururoa Flavell during his three-day visit.
